Review: Pidgin Kitchen & Bar, Dempsey

Pidgin – a simplified language aimed to communicate between two groups with no language in common. Essentially, Pidgin Kitchen & Bar at Dempsey Road is a bridge uniting two different food cultures with little in common. Tucked in the enclave of restaurants, Pidgin serves up Singapore-fused Western favourites.

Housed in a quaint café, the interior draws away from the dark setting commonly found in its brethren in the area. Warming up our appetites with the Crab Otak Croquettes ($12) was an ideal choice. The starter was rich in lemongrass, yet filled with the creamy textures of a croquette, and paired well with the chye poh remoulade. Avoid the Chicken Rice Arancini ($8), as no chicken rice is complete with the absence of chicken in my opinion.

Next up was the Razor Clams Tau Suan ($20), which was a successful fusion of the two cultures. While it took a while to fathom having tau suan for a main, the split mung beans lent a chewy bite to the soup. Richly flavoured by the razor clams, and topped with dough fritters, this novel dish sat well with us.

After the delicious soup, the Sambal Eggs ($12) paled in comparison. Nothing more than splitting two eggs over your sambal paste, I eagerly anticipated a wow factor with every bite, only to be let down. It faired average at best, and was akin to the Tunisian Breakfast found at Wild Honey, only spicier.

While many shy away from foie gras due to its cruelty, I stand by it as an affordable luxury. The Foie Gras ($28) was a generous portion, and the accompanying rojak sauce gave it a deeper undertone of sweetness that accentuated the fattiness of the liver. Truthfully, the fruits were more of a decoration than any help to the dish.

Last main up was the Lobster Wonton Capellini ($26) that had me regretting I did not save my appetite for Fei Fei Wanton Noodles on the way home instead. An unnecessary luxury at best, the lobster only served to allow Pidgin a higher markup. While the lobster was completely masked in the deep fried wontons, the slices of chorizo in place of char siew were interesting but forgettable. No matter how many renditions of “I Will Always Love You” be sung, Dolly Parton still wins my heart.

Ending off the meal, we had an order of Osmanthus Crème Brulee ($12). I do enjoy a good crème brulee, and the floral osmanthus in the custard was a unique and enjoyable introduction.

Pidgin Kitchen & Bar tries to marry the best of both worlds in globalization, but dishes were hit-and-miss. While there were a few enjoyable dishes, many faired average at best. Nevertheless, Pidgin puts an interesting twist to our local favourites for diners.

Pidgin Kitchen & Bar 7 Dempsey Road, #01-04 Singapore 249671

Tel: +65 6475 0080 | Website

Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm (lunch) Mon – Sat: 6.30pm – 10.30pm (dinner)